Rise of Regional Kingdoms: Sikh (Warrior State)

Ranjit Singh was born on November 13, 1780, in Gujranwala, now in Pakistan.
He belongs to the Sukerchakia misl and he unified all warring misls under one Sikh empire.
His empire was in the northwest part of the Indian subcontinent in the Punjab region.
Good relations with the British and signed the Treaty of Amritsar and the Triparty Treaty.
Contributions
- The Sikhs take pride in him for he turned Harmandir Sahib at Amritsar into the Golden Temple by covering it with gold.
- Trained sikh army in the European way.
After His Death
- The period after the death of Maharaj Ranjit Singh (1839) saw great instability in Punjab.
- Ultimately, Power fell into the hands of the brave and patriotic but utterly undisciplined army called Khalsa interfered in the affairs of the state.
- Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s son Dalip Singh was on the throne but the state was ruled by his mother Rani Jindan with the help of her favourite officers who on the one hand intrigued with the British and incited the Khalsa on the other.
- British had signed a treaty of perpetual friendship with Ranjit Singh in 1809 but they were looking for every opportunity to conquer Punjab.
- The Punjab army was provoked by the warlike actions of the British and their intrigues with the corrupt chiefs of the Punjab.

Pic Credit – Wikimedia Commons

First Anglo-Sikh War (1845-1846)
- The Sikh army was defeated, leading to the Treaty of Lahore (1846).
- Jalandhar Doab was annexed by the British.
- Jammu & Kashmir was sold to Raja Gulab Singh Dogra for ₹5 million.
- Punjab Army was reduced, and a British garrison was stationed in Lahore.
Second Anglo-Sikh War (1848-1849)
- Local revolts in Punjab led by Mulraj (Multan) & Chattar Singh Attariwala (Lahore).
- The Battle of Chillianwala saw fierce resistance, but the Sikhs were finally defeated in 1849.
- Lord Dalhousie annexed Punjab in 1849, making it the last independent state to fall under British rule.